Ignition system for internal-combustion engines.



v w. c; BRINTON. JR; IGNITION SYSTEM FQR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR-23. I9I6.

1,227, 1 10. Patented May 22,1917.

Vii/1km 623M271, I a? -'WILLIAM o. nnm'ron, .13., or

KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PHILIPS-BBINTON COMPANY, OF KENNE'IT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITION SYSTEM FOR IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. BRINTON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Kennett Square, county of Chester, and

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ignition Systerns for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, re -rence being had to the accompanyin drawings, which form a part of this speci cation.

In an application filed by me on the 10th 7 day of November, 1915, Serial No. 60,646,

I set forth an ignition system for internal combustion engines comprising, among other features, a primary circuit, a vibrator and also a contact maker and interrupter in the circuit, a switch controlling the passage of current through the circuit, and a swltch adapted to hold open the circuit through the vibrator, in combination with a secondary circuit and devices for distributing the current in the secondary circuit to the spark plugs of the several engine cylinders. This apparatus is inevery sense operatlve. However, in starting the engines, the c1rcu1t passes through both the vibrator and the contact maker and interrupter, which is not objectionable except .where means ar'provided to reverse the polarity of the circuit through the vibrator. It is desirable to -provide polarity reversing means to prevent deformation of the contact points of. the vi-.

brator, and where such means are provided it is desirable to also provide means whereby the primary circuit may be closed through either the vibrator or the contact maker and interrupter and so arrange such means that the primary circuit cannot be closed simultaneously through both. It is also desirable to provide means whereby, automatically, at each closing of the circuit through the vibrator, the direction of flow of the current will bethe reverse of that during the previous closure of the circuit through the vibrator, thereby insuring, in the long run, an

approximate equalization of opposite directions of flow.- It is also desirable that the arrangement'b'e such that the current may be taken from more than one source; as,-for example, two batteries, say a storage battery for regular use and a dry cell battery for emergency use; or a magneto circuit and a battery circuit. It is also desirable that Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied March 23, 1916. Serial No. 88,286.

partly in section,

Patented May 22, 1917.

An apparatus designed and adapted to,

perform these functions, and which exhibits a preferred embodiment of my invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a diagram of the system showmg the vibrator and part of the switch apparatus in plan. Fig. 2 is an elevation, of the switch apparatus. Fig. 3 is a face view of the movable member of one switch. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view, partly in section, of the upper members of the switch apparatus.

A source of current supply at, which may be assumed to be a storage battery, is grounded at one side. While its other side is connected with a binding post a. By means of a main switch 'A, to be hereinafter described,.the circuit is adapted to be closed between this binding post and another binding post I), which is connected with the primary coil 3 which is in turn connected with a binding post 0. These binding posts are mounted at suitable locations on the base 0,, which forms a closure for both the main switch apparatus and the switch apparatus for reversing the polarity of the circuit and for closing the circuit through the regular system (the contact maker and interrupter) or through the auxiliary system (the vibrator), as hereinafter described.

The base d also carries a binding post 7, which leads to ground, a contact 9 connected with binding post-e, and a contact 7:. connected with the binding post It, which is connected with the contact maker and interrupter B, and four other contacts, 1, 2, 3 and 4:. Contact 1 is connected with binding post 6, contacts 2 and 3 with opposite poles of the vibrator C and contact Lwith binding post f 'The base d is stationary.

Mounted to turn on the cover plate at of the base. The movable member of the polarity form contacts a, of which either opposite two are adapted to. engage contacts '9 and h on the base (Z. Also carried on said disk are two parallel strips or bridge pieces 5, 6, of conducting material, which are adapted to connect contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Assume that the circuit is closed from the battery binding post e and that the rotatable member of the switch D is in such position that strip 5 connects contacts 1 and 2 and strip 6 connects contacts 3 and 4. WVhen the main switch A closes the circuit, the current passes from the battery :0 to the primary. coil 1 thence to bindingpost e and contact 1, thence through strip 5 to contact 2, thence through the vibrator C to contact 3, thence through strip 6 to contact 4, and thence to binding post f and ground. The circuit at this time is not closed through the contact maker and interrupter because no two opposite contacts z" are in position to engage contacts 1 and k. If the rotatable member of the switch D is given a one-eighth turn, the strips 5 and 6 are brought into such position that they bridge none of the contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4 (thus opening the circuit through the vibrator) and at the same time two opposite contacts a" engage respectively the contacts g and h. Thercupon the current coming to binding post 6 passes to contact g, thence through plate 2' to contact h, thence to binding post is, and thence to the contact maker and interrupter B to ground.

If the rotatable member of the SWitch'D is given another one-eighth turn, the contacts z" are again moved out of connection with contacts 1 and 71, (thus opening the circuit through the contact maker and interrupter) and strip 6 connects contacts 2 and 4, while strip 5 connects contacts -1 and 3. The current passing to binding post 6 now passes through contact 1, strip 5 and contact 3, thence through the vibrator, in the reverse direction from that'hereinbefore described, and thence through contact 2, strip 6, contact 4 and binding post f to ground.

The'switch D can be turned only in one direction owing to the engagement of a ratchet m on the hub of its rotatable member with .a spring arm m, as shown in Fig. 4. This construction also operates to stop and hold the switch at the exact position to which it is turned. Hence, whenever switch D is moved into position to close the circuit through the vibrator, it causes the current to flow therethroughin the direction opposite to its flow during the last preceding closure of the circuit through the vibrator.

The contacts 1, 2, 3, 4, g and h. are plungers pressed upward by springs n, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby insuring the establishment and maintenance of proper electrical connection between these contacts and the bridge as through the primary coil y to the pieces carried by the rotatable member of the switch D.

The main switch A comprises a hub 0 turnable in a boss 0 and carrying a handle 0' and an arm 0 The boss 0 is cut away to limit the movement of the arm 0 in opposite directions. The arm 0 carries a spring pressed plunger 1) rounded end adapted to settle into a concave depression in the contact a'when the switch arm is turned to the left, Fig. 1. The plunger p is adapted to contact with a similar contact 0 when the switch arm is turned to the right, Fig. 1. Contact 0 is connected with another source of current supply, say a dry cell battery in. When the switch arm 1s moved to an intermediate position, it opens the circuit to both batteries :0 and w. It is intended that one of these batteries shall be the one normally used, while the other is to be used only in emergencies. The hub 0 is cut away to receive the bent-in end of a plate q when the switch A is moved to its central or off position, thereby preventing the removal of the switch. The plate 9 connects with the contact 1) leading having a convexly to the primary coil y. A leaf spring p is secured at one end to the plate and at the other end contacts with the lower face of the hub 0. When the switch is in either of its closed positions, the current travels from contact a or 0 through plunger 1), arm 0 spring p and plate'g, to contact 5.

The vibrator C may be of any approved construction. Thus it may comprise a binding post 7", a core 9", a winding W, a. springcarried armature r and a condenser 1".

'On, or actuated by,the regular cam shaft 8 of the engine is a cam s which intermittently actuates the contact maker and interrupter B, causing it to intermittently contact with a binding post 8 thereby intermittently closing the primary circuit from binding post 70 through binding post 8 and contact maker and interrupter B to ground. S is a. condenser in the condenser circuit .9. The contact maker and interrupter B may be of any approved construction, examples of which may be found in the patents issued to me February 23, 1915, No. 1,129,445 and No. 1,129,446, in an application filed by me July 24, 1915, Serial No. 41,665, and an application filed by Wm. H. Brown and myself jointly July 6, 1915, Serial No. 38,225.

The primary coil 3 energizes the coil 2 of the secondary circuit, in which is the distributer E. This distributor, which is on, or actuated by, the regular cam shaft s, need not be of any specific construction, but it is preferred, for reasons set out in my said application Serial No. 60,646, to employ a distributer of the construction set forth therein.

In starting the engine the switch D is moved into position to throw the vibrator G into circuit, and the switch A is moved into terrupter the engine may be run on the vibrator, and in case of any trouble with the regular battery the switch A may be operated to connect the circuit with the emergency battery.

I do not herein separately claim the construction herein shown for reversing the polarity of the circuit in the vibrator, as the same forms the subject-matter of another me November 7, .1916, Serial No. 129,933.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim-and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a primary clrcuit, a secondary rircult, primary and secondary COIlS 1n the respectlve circuits in operative correlation, a vibrator and a contact maker and interrupter arranged in parallel in the primary circuit, saidvibrator comprising an eIectro-magnet separate from said coils and a, vibrating member, a distributer in the secondary circuit, a cam shaft adapted to operate the distributer and control the operation of the contact maker and interrupter, and switching means adapted to close the circuit through the vibrator and effect its continuous operation and open the circuit through the contact maker and interrupter and vice versa.

2. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a primary circuit, a secondary circuit, primary and secondary coils in the respective circuits in operative correlation, a vibrator in one branch of the primary circuit, said vibrator comprising an electro-magnet separate from said coils and a vibrating member, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the primary circuit, a switch interposed in the primary circuit and adapted to close the circuit through one of said elements and open itthrough the other and vice versa, a plurality of independent sources of current supply, a second switch adapted to open and close said circuit through either source of current supply, a distributer in the secondary circuit, and a cam shaft to operate the distributer and control the operation of the contact maker and interrupter.

3. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter inan-v other branch of the circuit, and switching means adapted to close the circuit through the vibrator in either of two opposite direc tions and open the circuit through the contact maker and interrupter and vice versa.

, 4. Inan ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit,'and a switch adapted, in two diflerent positions, to cause the current to flow through the vibrator in @posite directions and adapted, in another position, to close the circuit through the contact maker and interrupter.

5. In an ignition system for internal C0111- bustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, and a switch turnable in one direction only and adapted to close the circuit alternately through the said two elements, said switch including means to reverse the polarity of the circuit through the vibrator.

6. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a Vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact'maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, and a switch turnable in one direction only and adapted to close the circuit alternately through the said two elements, said switch including means to. reverse the polarity of the circuit through the vibrator in passing from one circuit-closing position through the vibrator to the next circuit-closing position through the vibrator. v

7. In ani'gnition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a primary circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in one branch. of the circuit, a vibrator in an other branch of the circuit, a movable switch member, contacts arranged when connected in different ways to close the circuit through the vibrator in opposite directions and through the contact maker and interrupter, and bridge pieces carried by the switch member and adapted, in the movement of the switch member to different positions, to make the said different connections between said contacts.

8. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a primary circuit, a. contact maker and interrupter in one branch of the circuit, a vibrator in another branch' of the circuit, contacts arranged when connected in different ways to close the circuit through the vibrator in one direction, to close the circuit through the contact 'makerand interrupter, and to close the circuit through the vibrator in the other direction, a switch member rotatable in one direction only, and bridge pieces carried thereby and adapted, in the rotation of the switch member, to make the said several con- 13o bustion engines, in combination, an electric I6 a vibrator in one branch ofthe circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, a switch comprising contacts one connected with the source of supply, a second with the contact maker and interrupter, and a third and fourth with opposite poles of the vibrator, and a movable member carrying contacts adapted in one position to close the circuit between the first and second contact, in a second position to close the circuit between the first and third contacts and in a third position to close the circuit between the first and fourth contacts, whereby the circuit may be closed either through the contact maker.

and interrupter or through the vibrator and the polarity reversed through the latter.

7 10. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, a switch comprising ",ontacts one connected with the source of supply, a second with the contact maker and interrupter, a third and fourth with opposite poles of the vibrator and a fifth with ground, and a movable member carrying bridge pieces, one of which, in one position of said member, connects the first and second contacts, While the other, in a second position of said member, connects respectively the first and third contacts and the fourth and fifth contacts, and in a third 'position of said member connects respectively the first and fourth contacts and the third and fifth contacts.

11. In an ignition system for internal com bustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, a source of current supply, stationary contacts connected respectively to the source of current supply, opposite poles of the vibrator, to ground, and to the contact maker and interrupter, a rotatable switch member, a bridge piece thereon adapted to connect the stationary contacts connected respectively with the contact maker and interrupter and with the source of supply, and two bridge pieces thereon adapted to connect the first four stationary contacts in two differently arranged pairs to direct the current through the vibrator in opposite directions.

12. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit, a source of current supply, a vibrator in one branch of the circuit, a contact maker and interrupter in another branch of the circuit, six stationary contacts, four arranged at the angles of a square and the other two. arranged outside the square, a contact at one corner of the square and an outside contact connected with the source of current supply, the other outside contact connected with the contact maker and interrupter, and the other three contacts connected respectively to opposite poles of the vibrator and to ground, a revoluble switch member, two strips thereon arranged in parallel relation and adapted to connect the contacts at any two opposite sides of the square,

and an annular bridge piece and contacts thereon also carried by the revoluble switch member and adapted to connect the two outside contacts.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 14th day of March, 1916.

WILLIAM C. BRINTON, JR. 

